The Union Housing and Poverty Alleviation Ministry has earmarked a special component for providing rental accommodation to the homeless and migrant workers in urban areas. Under its flagship Rs. 35,810-crore Housing for All by 2022 project, the Ministry will offer them a place to stay for a stipulated period and monthly rent.
The Ministry, which has earmarked Rs. 6,000 crore for rental housing, has proposed different types of dwellings for families and individuals.
“Rental housing has been proposed as in the absence of affordable spaces in urban areas, the migrant workforce is forced to stay in slums. The scheme envisages a house up to 30 sq.m. for families and a single room or dormitory for individuals. The Centre will fund up to 75 per cent of the construction cost of these dwellings,” said a Ministry official.
The corporate sector can partner in the initiative as part of its corporate social responsibility activity.
Urban local bodies (ULB) will be mandated to identify the beneficiaries, work out the specifications of the rental agreements and decide the rent.
“The houses can be given on rent for a period of up to five years in case of migrant workers; the time stipulation will not be followed for the destitute and the homeless,” said the official.
The ULBs will also be responsible for planning, execution and management of these rental accommodations; they will have to carry out city-wide surveys, GIS mapping of the city and available land.
As per the government data, the housing shortage in the country is expected to go up from the current 18.78 million to 30 million by 2022, which means a shortage of one million houses in urban areas every year.
“A consequence of rapid urbanisation has been an increasing number of people being forced to live in slums and squatter settlements,” said the official.
